Sara Adams's Lounge Discussions

If you know about "Rent," then you know a clever way they raised $$$, Sara. They gave one minor non-speaking role to the highest donor (per performance). Do "Rent" research & it will help a lot.

Thanks for all the thoughts guys, I'll have to think it over. We don't have the rights yet, we're raising money so we can buy them/put on the production. As you know, this isn't a small feat, so I'm trying to think of anything and everything to pull some cash in.

Hi Sara, I think you're in a gray zone, not black and white. Before you retain an attorney and shell out hundreds of dollars, at least try to reach out to the Indiegogo crew (or whichever platform you're using) and ask how other stage producers have handled rewards. Email or tweet them, and I bet someone will offer you some tips. Or tweet some of the crowdfunding experts/consultants who answer questions on Twitter. Break legs!!!!

Why not contact the rights owner for the play, and ask to get an option agreement in place? You're going to have to ask for permission anyway, if you get the money, so why not talk about it now?

Hi Vasco, for RENT, you must license. http://www.mtishows.com/rent

Feel free to change their names and appearances - completely re-imagine the characters that way they're virtually unrecognizable from the real people.

True life characters can be some of the best to create stories about. How close you are to your subject can be a double edged sword. Will the story show them in a negative light or positive? can you be objective as you tell the story? can you bring them in as a story consultant? like albert said changing the personalities of the "nervous" people and being honest about the story may be the best approach. I'm in a similar situation. I'm looking for writing partners for input and a second pair of eyes. That may be an option for you as well.

I've just completed a screenplay SHADES OF LOVE which details the experiences of a friend who had a love affair with a man behind his wife's back (she still doesn't know) His lover died and continues to help him beyond the grave It's all amazingly true. Anyway, when I told him I wanted to write a book about it (I did and called it TWO SHADES OF GAY) he was happy with the idea and liked the book but the screenplay really gets inside his head and is quite different from the book. It's a message about the power of love. I sent him each draft and he told me if it is accurate. I've now polished the script and he is flattered I\ve taken the time to dramatise his life. I was up front from the start. i think this is the best way. i changed names and the location is generic (could be Britain, USA or Australia) It was actually NZ. The message here is be open with your friend. If they agree fine. if not, best think of a story that is not directly identifiable with them.

One way out is to write it while its fresh in your mind and then save it.Time and distance will put everything in perhaps in better perspective and take some of the emotional sting out of it. I have a friend who wrote a film as a slice of his life and I am sure he has no clue as to how bad it makes him look.He is evolving at his own pace.My other friend and I who encouraged him to write it, now have to beg off because any of the needed criticism of the movie will probably be seen as a personal attack.This is on top of demanding that he must have major control over the whole movie, when he is as green as they get.Its a danger to bring in family and friends on projects you see as work,Generally its best not to unless you have a very honest and open good working relationship. Its why many bands and entertainment relationships don't last and its a better choice to go for trust love and privacy with family with an occasional steal of character traits or odd story line.that's not true when you are doing a loving nostalgic story but if you are dealing with sensitive issues its a one sided bomb that is going to go off.

I have a similar situation one of my pals! I've asked to write her story and she's concerned about jeopardizing individuals she came in contact with who had security clearances. I decided on developing composite fictional characters and accounts "inspired by actual events." Otherwise I'd be forever stymied by getting clearances from hundreds of persons I don't know. -kaf

Here goes nothing?! This is a great share! Stay positive, Sara!